Page 73 of Church Girl
But Mom doesn’t follow.
My heart pounds in my chest as she remains standing in front of me. Even when Daddy whirls around and snaps her name.
“In a minute, Tim.” She doesn’t glance over her shoulder to see his shock, but I do. And I’m as stunned as he is. Mom moves forward and pulls me into her arms. After a brief, astonished hesitation, I hug her back, and her embrace tightens. A sob wells up inside me at her familiar sent and the unfamiliar joy that she chose me. Put me first. Even if only for a couple of moments, my mother chose me.
“I love you, sweetheart,” she whispers in my ear. “Anytime you need me, I’m just a phone call away. And, Aaliyah... I’m so proud of you.”
The words are just between us, but they still have tears stinging my eyes. She briefly cups my shoulders before releasing me with a smile. Then she walks toward my father, who leaves the apartment without a backward glance. Mom waves to me then steps out, pulling the door closed behind her.
“Did that shit just happen, or did I smoke too much weed earlier?” Tamara asks into the silence.
I snicker. “Yes, that just happened. Even though I’m still not sure what ‘that’ is.”
I glance over at her, and we stare at one another for a long moment then crack up, our laughter loud, obnoxious and cleansing.
I stood up to my parents, and I’m good. Most importantly, though?
I’m free.
“I’m so proud of you, Aaliyah,” Tamara says. “For a minute there, I was a little worried, but you telling them ‘I think the fuck not’ without one curse was something worth buying tickets to see.” She laughs, but then sobers. “Are you okay, though? Not just with your parents and fuckboy but...Von?”
That quick, the peace and happiness bubbling inside of me goes flat.
“You warned me not to fall for him,” I murmur.
“I did,” she agrees, sliding an arm around my shoulders. “But what the fuck do I know? The way that man had your back—”
“The way he walked out of here without a word or even a look at me, you mean.”
She sighs. “He was hurt and didn’t have the full story. And shit, your parents and a man claiming to be your fiancé would overwhelm anybody.”
“He hurt me, too,” I softly admit. “He encouraged me to find my voice, to use it. He’s come to know me, the real me, over these past couple of months. And at the first sign of trouble, he ran. He left me alone. No.” I shake my head. “I don’t know what this means about my job, but if I don’t stand up for myself, who will? For the first time, I’m having my own back. And that’ll have to be enough. Itisenough.”
Besides, I can’t erase his hard, implacable expression as he walked out that door from my mind. For a man who’s been betrayed like he has, the wounds go deep. And those aren’t wounds I can heal; he can only heal those himself.
The love and acceptance I crave—from my parents, from him—has to start with me.
“Damn, girl. Who the hell are you and what have you done with my cousin? I’m asking so you can tell her ass to stay over where she at. I want this woman right here.”
Though the pain in my heart hasn’t abated, I laugh at this fool woman. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“You love it.”
“I do,” I say. “And I love you, too.”
“Oh fuuuuck.” Tamara tips her head back, scrunching her face up. “Did you really just go there? Don’t make mefeel. That’s not fair.”
Cracking up, I hug her tight. And she hugs me back.
This right here?
This is enough.
Twelve
“See, what you not gon’ do...”
Von
